It’s December, however Troy Dye has been transported again to the canine days of coaching camp, when the calls have been easy. The hours and days on the sector ran collectively. His physique aches have been the identical.
A Thursday night time recreation can have that impact.
“It’s a true football test game for sure,” Dye stated.
4 brief days after a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Chargers will attempt to regroup to face the Denver Broncos at 5:15 p.m. PST on Thursday at SoFi Stadium.
Getting ready for this week’s brief turnaround was extra difficult than a typical Thursday night time recreation. The AFC West rivals weren’t initially scheduled to play in prime time, however the important thing matchup was shifted from Sunday to “Thursday Night Football,” changing a recreation between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals.
As an alternative of the AFC North groups at present outdoors of the playoff image, the NFL’s first “Thursday Night Football” flex will deal with a nationwide viewers to a matchup with direct playoff implications.
The Broncos (9-5), the No. 6 seed within the AFC, can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a tie whereas the Chargers (8-6) are attempting to enhance their No. 7 seed and snap a two-game shedding streak.
As soon as the change was introduced on Nov. 22 — adhering to a 28-day window accepted by homeowners in Might 2023 — the Chargers’ workforce of teaching analysts sprung into motion. The change shifted the workload for workers members who work weeks forward to interrupt down movie and determine an opposing workforce’s tendencies.
Coaches already have been having quiet conferences concerning the Broncos recreation final week whereas making ready to play the Buccaneers.
Then after the 40-17 loss that ended at 4:27 p.m., offensive coordinator Greg Roman was in his workplace on the Chargers observe facility in El Segundo taking a look at movie and making ready the sport plan for the Broncos by 6:30 p.m.
When did Roman depart that night time?
“Late,” he stated with a smirk. “Really late.”
Gamers have been on an identical schedule. The second they left the locker room Sunday, minds shifted towards the Broncos. Dye was at residence by 7 p.m. and already taking a look at movie of the Broncos.
Between recreation planning and bodily restoration, any hopes of private time to decompress are gone throughout a brief week.
“We’re professionals,” offensive lineman Zion Johnson stated, “so we get on it early, watch the film at home, make sure that we’re on top of everything we need to be.”
For gamers, Mondays after video games are largely off and Tuesdays are half days. However with this week’s Monday unofficially remodeling into game-week Wednesday, gamers have been on the observe discipline for walk-throughs the day after the loss. Stroll-throughs and psychological reps are nearly all of a workforce’s preparation whereas defending gamers’ our bodies on a brief week.
“The biggest thing is the mental aspect of it,” Dye stated, “because the turnaround for your body is gonna be difficult on both teams regardless. So whoever can get ahead mentally is gonna have that bigger edge.”
Familiarity between the divisional rivals makes the sport preparation on a brief week simpler, coaches and gamers stated. The Chargers can look again at movie from their Week 6 win in Denver for a baseline understanding of how the Broncos may assault however they notice loads has modified.
The Broncos used a fourth-quarter surge that fell brief in opposition to the Chargers to realize momentum towards six wins within the subsequent eight weeks. After the loss, the Broncos circled for a highway Thursday night time recreation, mastering the tough condensed week to defeat the Saints in New Orleans on Oct. 17.
“I just think we as coaches have learned a lot about how to play these games maybe differently than when we were first doing it,” Broncos coach Sean Payton advised reporters this week of making ready for a second Thursday night time recreation in a season. “I think it’s important to really look closely at not over-installing. Making sure the guys know what they’re getting by heart.”
The Chargers want edge rushers Khalil Mack, left, and Joey Bosa to maintain the strain on Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances)
To Roman, establishing a streamlined however efficient recreation plan isn’t any problem in contrast with the bodily restoration gamers undergo. The workforce arrange a makeshift coaching room within the SoFi Stadium locker room proper after Sunday’s recreation. Through the week, gamers have to maximise their time by staying late or watching movie whereas within the therapy room.
“I feel like time is an illusion,” outdoors linebacker Khalil Mack stated. “You can do everything to attack the week the same way you would with the extra three days.”
The 11-year veteran has meticulously cared for his physique whereas within the twilight of his profession. Mack sometimes rests on Wednesdays, recovering within the coaching room throughout what his teammates jokingly name “spa days.” The 33-year-old was nursing an advanced groin harm that affected each legs and saved him out for a recreation earlier this season. It was the primary time he was inactive for a recreation since 2021.
“The only medicine is to get it fixed on the game days and to get another win,” security Derwin James Jr. stated. “We get to do that Thursday. We don’t have to wait a whole week.”
